Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever

Ebola became the medical news story of 2014 when the largest outbreak in wold history occurred in central and west Africa. The outbreak was contained, and researchers are still working toward a cure.

Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Overview

Reviewed: August 11, 2014

Updated: April 7, 2015

Ebola virus disease is a viral disease that occurs primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rain forests. It is passed to humans from infected animals and animal materials, and spread between humans by close contact with infected body fluids or through infected needles in the hospital.

Symptoms commonly appear 8-10 days after exposure to Ebola virus. Some early symptoms of Ebola include: fever, headache, nausea, and diarrhea.

Ebola is caused by infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae, genus Ebolavirus. There are five different subspecies of this virus and four of them cause disease in humans. Researchers believe the natural hosts of the virus are animals, most likely bats. When an infection does occur in humans, the virus can be transmitted to others by direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected person, and exposure to objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated with infected secretions.

Currently, there is no known cure for Ebola. Standard treatment for Ebola is still limited to supportive therapy which includes balancing the patients fluids and electrolytes, maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure, treating any complicating infections, and transfusion of platelets or fresh blood. A Vaccine for Ebola virus is being tested.

Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Symptoms

Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola virus, although 8 to 10 days after exposure is most common.

Symptoms of Ebola virus typically include:

Fever

Headache

Chills

Joint and muscle aches

Backache (low-back pain)

Weakness

Nausea

Diarrhea

Vomiting

Sore throat

Stomach pain

Lack of appetite

Some patients may experience:

A Rash

Red Eyes

Hiccups

Cough

Chest pain

Difficulty breathing

Difficulty swallowing

Bleeding inside and outside of the body

In later stages of the infection, patients may experience swelling of the eyes or genitals (labia and scrotum), rashes, and/or profuse bleeding.

The Ebola virus causes bleeding by affecting the blood’s ability to clot. As the disease progresses, the Ebola virus causes liver injury which leads to a decline in plasma levels of certain clotting factors. The virus eventually infects the microvascular endothelial cells and compromises their integrity. As a result, platelets do not promptly aggregate therefore can not prevent blood loss and promote wound repair as they usually do. In addition, blood begins to leak out of the vessels. As a result, bleeding occurs.

Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Causes

Ebola is caused by infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae, genus Ebolavirus. There are five different subspecies of this virus and four of them cause disease in humans. Researchers believe the natural hosts of the virus are animals, most likely bats.

In Africa, confirmed cases of Ebola have been reported in:

Guinea

Liberia

Sierra Leone

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Gabon

South Sudan

Ivory Coast

Uganda

Republic of the Congo (ROC)

South Africa

When an infection does occur in humans, there are several ways in which the virus can be transmitted to others. These include:

direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected person

exposure to objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated with infected secretions

The viruses that cause Ebola are often spread through families and friends because they come in close contact with infectious secretions when caring for ill persons.

During outbreaks of Ebola, the disease can spread quickly within health care settings if adequate precautions are not taken. Precautions include wearing appropriate protective equipment (ex: gowns, mask, gloves), proper cleaning and disposal of needles and syringes, and sterilization of instruments.

Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Diagnosis

It is difficult to diagnose Ebola in someone who has been infected for only a few days. Since early symptoms such as headache, fever, red eyes, and skin rash are not specific to Ebola viruses, Ebola may initially be misdiagnosed.

If there is reason to believe that an individual might have Ebola, certain tests may be performed to aid in diagnosis and confirm infection:

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